When a large commercial 18 wheeler truck is involved in a road traffic collision, in most instances the driver of the truck fares a lot better than the driver of the other vehicle that has been hit by it. This is due to the large disparity in size and weight between commercial cargo carrying trucks and the average family car.
That being said, injuries and fatalities to truck drivers do unfortunately occur from time to time so you should do everything that you can to try and avoid a collision at all costs, as you could end up paying with your life. Additionally, driving a big rig comes with a certain level of responsibility not only to yourself and the other road users, but also to the employer that you are working for at the time.
Causing damage to their vehicle could end up costing them a lot of money in repairs and insurance claims, thus putting stress on their business. You never know, it may end up costing you your job.
While you may think that the vast majority of truck traffic collisions happen at speed on the nation’s highways (of which some do), big rigs travel on all types of roads, including local and rural roads, and this is actually where most road traffic collisions involving trucks happen. So it is important to be extra vigilant when driving on these types of roads, especially when you are unfamiliar with them and the weather conditions are poor.
Some of the tips and tricks that truck drivers can use when out on the road to avoid being involved in a traffic collision include the following things:
Do not drive too fast
Speed limits exist for your own safety and that of other drivers on the road. A speed limit sign is not there as a suggestion or as an indication of the minimum speed that you should be driving your big rig at. It represents the maximum speed that you can drive at on that particular stretch of road.
When driving at night or in poor weather conditions, you will need to adjust your speed accordingly so that you can drive safely and get your cago to its destination in one piece. When driving trucks, it is always best to air on the side of caution and drive that bit slower, especially on those roads where traffic collisions most commonly happen. This is because when full of cargo, a truck’s braking distance can be seriously impacted on.
Do some planning
A big part of the job as a truck driver is to deliver goods to new destinations that you may never have driven to before. When going to these types of destinations, it is always helpful to do some planning ahead of time to get familiar with the route and the types of roads that you will be driving on.
You may find that you need to adjust your route so that your big rig will fit under bridges or be able to pass through exits and / or entrances. While a GPS system is somewhat helpful, they are not designed specifically for 18 wheelers in mind so it is always helpful to do some forward planning the old fashioned way. It is important that a truck driver knows what their trestle and bridge clearances are ahead of time so that they do not end up getting stuck somewhere and causing damage to the vehicle and its cargo.
Do a vehicle check
Before setting off on a journey in their truck, drivers should give their vehicle a once over to ensure that it is road worthy and safe. The reason for this is that vehicle maintenance issues are one of the main causes of truck accidents in the United States.
Things like steering problems, faulty brakes, or tires that are not road worthy can have disastrous effects on the road, both for a truck and any other vehicles nearby. Knowing what noises and rattles to listen out for whilst driving can potentially prevent an issue with a big rig from turning south.
If you have been in a truck collision that was caused as a direct result of a malfunctioned vehicle, then you should reach out to a specialist malfunctioning equipment attorney who can handle your case for you and secure the level of compensation that you deserve.
Do not drive intoxicated
While it may be tempting for some drivers to get behind the wheel of a big rig while under the influence of drugs and / or alcohol, it is something that should never be done as not only is it illegal but it is also very dangerous too. In order to cope with the fatigue caused by driving long distances, some drivers turn to stimulating drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines to perk themselves up a bit.
For any drivers feeling tired or weary, there are much better solutions available such as coffee or caffeine based energy drinks like Red Bull. These will keep you well focused until you reach your destination where you can then rest up until adequately refreshed.
Do not lose focus
When you are in charge of such a large vehicle that could cause serious damage to other road users, it is vitally important that you remain focused at all times while driving it. You should never make a call on your cell phone, or even send a text or read one, whilst behind the wheel of a truck.
The only thing that you should ever be doing whilst on the road is driving – attempting to do anything else is just not safe to do so. This means that your radio station or music playlist should be settled before you set off so that there is no need to play around with them while driving.
Do connect with the customer
Local roads that are near warehouses or stores can be difficult to navigate in a large 18 wheeler, especially if you are not familiar with the roads. Because of this reason, it can be beneficial for truck drivers to reach out to the customer they are delivering their cargo to to get some advice about the local roads and if there are any that should be avoided for any reason.
Although this may be a little time consuming, it could end up actually saving you a great deal of time further down the road by avoiding traffic, as well as keeping you and other road users safe.
Do have a spotter with you
Having a spotter ride sling in the cab of your big rig with you can be very helpful for lots of different situations. While they do provide some much needed assistance, as a truck driver, it is important to not be over reliant on a spotter and, by default, fail to do some of the basic things that keep you and other road users safe yourself. There is nothing wrong with getting out of your vehicle (where safe to do so of course) and having a good look at a situation, such as a bridge, to see if it is safe for you to navigate.
Do not exceed your driving hours
There are very strict rules and regulations in place regarding the number of hours that truck drivers can spend behind the wheel and the number of breaks (including sleep breaks) that they must have during this time. While some drivers may see this as restrictive and inhibiting their driving, they are actually in place to keep truck drivers and other road users safe.
It is reasonable to say that these are the most important rules that any commercial big rig driver needs to follow. After all, a tired driver is a dangerous driver. Being well rested makes you a better driver and so more likely to hit any targets that you may be required to reach.
Do know what your cargo is
Although this may seem like a pretty common sense thing to know for most truck drivers out there, some drivers, such as those employed through an agency or working as an independent contractor, will not know what it is that they are hauling in the back of their big rig.
However, it is very important that a driver knows what to do with the cargo in an emergency event, such as a traffic collision. There may be emergency supplies or hazardous materials in the back and there may be certain ways that these need to be looked after.
The takeaway
Thousands of traffic collisions happen on the roads in America every single day and many of these cannot be avoided, no matter how vigilante or focused the drivers are. There is no legislating for the bad behavior of other drivers on the road. However, by taking on board each of the above tips and tricks, you can seriously minimize your chances of being involved in a traffic collision whilst driving an 18 wheeler truck.